Cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A cleaning apparatus includes a dust collector detachably installed at a cleaning stick. The dust collector includes a cyclone unit to generate a cyclone stream and a dust collecting unit to collect foreign matter. In this structure, a dust collecting efficiency of the dust collector may be increased, and a load of a cleaning apparatus body may be reduced.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cleaning apparatus, comprising:
 a cleaning apparatus body comprising a drive unit configured to generate a suction force; 
 a head unit through which air is introduced by the suction force; 
 a cleaning stick configured to extend from the head unit in a lengthwise direction; and 
 a dust collector comprising an inlet port, an outlet port spaced apart from the inlet port in the lengthwise direction, and a dust collecting flow path formed in the lengthwise direction from the inlet port to the outlet port, 
 wherein the dust collector comprises:
 a cyclone unit comprising a cyclone space including the dust collecting flow path and configured to generate a cyclone stream from the air introduced through the head unit so that foreign matter is separated from the air that flows along the dust collecting flow path; 
 a dust collecting unit configured to communicate with the cyclone unit and comprising a dust collecting space to collect foreign matter from the cyclone unit; 
 a partition rib which partially partitions the dust collecting unit from the cyclone unit in a lengthwise direction of the dust collector; 
 a communication gap provided between an end of the partition rib and a discharge side of the dust collector through which the foreign matter separated from the air by the cyclone unit flows from the cyclone unit into the dust collecting unit; and 
 a prevention rib disposed in the dust collecting unit to be spaced apart from the communication gap a predetermined distance and disposed to face the communication gap to block foreign matter reversely flowing from the dust collecting unit into the cyclone unit, 
 
 wherein the cyclone unit comprises:
 an inlet hole formed in a side of a tube extending from the inlet port to the inside of the cyclone space and formed so that air introduced from the inlet port is radially outwardly discharged from the tube, and 
 at least one cyclone generating rib formed spirally about the outer circumference of the tube to direct air introduced radially outward from the tube through the inlet hole to form a cyclone air stream, 
 
 wherein the cyclone space of the cyclone unit and the dust collecting space of the dust collecting unit are disposed inside a dust collector body, the dust collector body comprising an opening directly communicating with the cyclone space and the dust collecting space, 
 wherein a dust collector cover is disposed to open and close the opening of the dust collector body such that the cyclone space and the dust collecting space are accessible through the opening when the dust collector cover is open, and 
 wherein the prevention rib protrudes inwardly from the dust collector cover. 
 
     
     
       2. The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the dust collecting flow path constitutes at least one portion of the stick flow path. 
     
     
       3. The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a cyclone stream flows in the dust collecting flow path. 
     
     
       4. The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the dust collector is configured to be connectable to a dust collector mounting unit of the cleaning stick. 
     
     
       5. The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the cyclone unit further comprises:
 an outlet guide unit forming the outlet port and configured to guide air flowing in the cyclone unit toward the outlet port. 
 
     
     
       6. The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the outlet guide unit is disposed at the dust collector cover. 
 
     
     
       7. The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the inlet port and the outlet port are disposed at one side and the other side of the cyclone unit, respectively. 
     
     
       8. The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein centers of the inlet port, the dust collecting flow path, the outlet guide unit, and the outlet port are aligned on a same line. 
     
     
       9. The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cyclone generating rib comprises a pair of cyclone generating ribs formed in a spiral shape and facing each other to split air introduced through the inlet port into two branches and form the cyclone stream. 
     
     
       10. The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the cyclone unit comprises a cyclone case forming the cyclone space in which the cyclone stream generated by the cyclone generator flows, the cyclone case having an inner diameter of approximately 80 mm or less, and 
 the pair of cyclone generating ribs are disposed in the cyclone case. 
 
     
     
       11. The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the dust collector further comprises a communication hole to allow foreign matter separated from the air that flows along the dust collecting flow path by the cyclone stream generated by the cyclone unit to move toward the dust collecting unit, 
 the outlet guide unit comprises a grille unit to guide air from inside of the cyclone unit toward the outlet port, and 
 a distance between the grille unit and the inlet port is less than a distance between the communication hole and the inlet port. 
 
     
     
       12. The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the dust collector mounting unit comprises a catch protrusion which is coupled with a catch button of the dust collector, when the dust collector is connected to the cleaning stick. 
     
     
       13. The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the dust collector is formed of a transparent material through which the inside of the dust collector is visible. 
     
     
       14. The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning stick comprises:
 an extension pipe connected to the head unit; and 
 a handle assembly having one end connected to the extension pipe and the other end connected to the cleaning apparatus body via a flexible hose, the handle assembly being configured to manipulate the extension pipe. 
 
     
     
       15. The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the dust collector further comprises:
 an inlet coupling unit extending from the inlet port and coupled to the extension pipe; and 
 an outlet coupling unit extending from the outlet port and coupled to the handle assembly. 
 
     
     
       16. A cleaning apparatus, comprising:
 a cleaning apparatus body comprising a drive unit configured to generate a suction force; 
 a head unit through which air is introduced by the suction force; 
 a cleaning stick having one end configured to be connected to the head unit and the other end configured to be connected to the cleaning apparatus body via a flexible hose; and 
 a dust collector configured to be detachably installed at the cleaning stick, the dust collector comprising:
 a cyclone unit configured to form a cyclone stream in a cyclone space; 
 a dust collecting unit configured to communicate with the cyclone unit and comprising a dust collecting space to collect foreign matter from the cyclone unit 
 a partition rib which partially partitions the dust collecting unit from the cyclone unit in a lengthwise direction of the dust collector; 
 a communication gap provided between an end of the partition rib and a discharge side of the dust collector through which the foreign matter separated from the air by the cyclone unit flows from the cyclone unit into the dust collecting unit; and 
 a prevention rib disposed in the dust collecting unit to be spaced apart from the communication gap a predetermined distance and disposed to face the communication gap to block foreign matter reversely flowing from the dust collecting unit into the cyclone unit, 
 wherein the cyclone unit comprises:
 a cyclone generator configured to generate the cyclone stream in air introduced through an inlet port which communicates with the head unit; and 
 an outlet guide unit configured to guide air from inside of the cyclone unit toward an outlet port which communicates with the cleaning apparatus body, 
 
 wherein the cyclone generator comprises:
 an inlet hole formed in a side of a tube extending from the inlet port to the inside of the cyclone space and formed so that air introduced from the inlet port is radially outwardly discharged from the tube, and 
 at least one cyclone generating rib formed spirally about the outer circumference of the tube to direct air introduced radially outward from the tube through the inlet hole to form a cyclone air stream, 
 
 
 wherein the cyclone space of the cyclone unit and the dust collecting space of the dust collecting unit are disposed inside a dust collector body, the dust collector body comprising an opening directly communicating with the cyclone space and the dust collecting space, 
 wherein a dust collector cover is disposed to open and close the opening of the dust collector body, 
 wherein the cyclone space and the dust collecting space are accessible through the opening when the dust collector cover is open, and 
 wherein the prevention rib protrudes inwardly from the dust collector cover. 
 
     
     
       17. The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the dust collector is coupled to the cleaning stick to form a portion of a flow path from the head unit to the cleaning apparatus body. 
     
     
       18. The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the cyclone generator is disposed at the dust collector body, and 
 the outlet guide unit is disposed at the dust collector cover. 
 
     
     
       19. The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the inlet port and the outlet port are disposed at one side and the other side of the cyclone unit, respectively. 
     
     
       20. The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the inlet port and the outlet port are spaced apart from each other, and centers of the inlet port, the outlet port, the cyclone generator, and the outlet guide unit are aligned on a same line. 
     
     
       21. A cleaning apparatus, comprising:
 a drive unit configured to generate a suction force; 
 a head unit through which air is introduced by the suction force; 
 an extension pipe configured to extend from the head unit; 
 a handle assembly, at which the drive unit is disposed, configured to manipulate the extension pipe; and 
 a dust collector configured to be detachably installed at the handle assembly, the dust collector comprising:
 a cyclone unit configured to form a cyclone stream in a cyclone space, and to form a portion of a flow path from the head unit to the drive unit; 
 a dust collecting unit configured to communicate with the cyclone unit and comprising a dust collecting space to collect foreign matter from the cyclone unit; 
 a partition rib which partially partitions the dust collecting unit from the cyclone unit in a lengthwise direction of the dust collector; 
 a communication gap provided between an end of the partition rib and a discharge side of the dust collector through which the foreign matter separated from the air by the cyclone unit flows from the cyclone unit into the dust collecting unit; and 
 a prevention rib disposed in the dust collecting unit to be spaced apart from the communication gap a predetermined distance and disposed to face the communication gap to block foreign matter reversely flowing from the dust collecting unit into the cyclone unit, 
 wherein the cyclone unit comprises a cyclone generator configured to generate the cyclone stream in air introduced through an inlet port which communicates with the head unit, and 
 wherein the cyclone generator comprises:
 an inlet hole formed in a side of a tube extending from the inlet port to the inside of the cyclone space and formed so that air introduced from the inlet port is radially outwardly discharged from the tube, and 
 at least one cyclone generating rib formed spirally about the outer circumference of the tube to direct air introduced radially outward from the tube through the inlet hole to form a cyclone air stream, 
 
 
 wherein the cyclone space of the cyclone unit and the dust collecting space of the dust collecting unit are disposed inside a dust collector body, the dust collector body comprising an opening directly communicating with the cyclone space and the dust collecting space, 
 wherein a dust collector cover is disposed to open and close the opening of the dust collector body, 
 wherein the cyclone space and the dust collecting space are accessible through the opening when the dust collector cover is open, and 
 wherein the prevention rib protrudes inwardly from the dust collector cover. 
 
     
     
       22. The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein the cyclone unit comprises:
 an outlet guide unit configured to guide air from the cyclone stream toward the outlet port which communicates with the drive unit. 
 
     
     
       23. The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein
 the drive unit comprises a driving inlet port through which air is sucked and a driving outlet port through which air is discharged, and 
 the driving inlet port is disposed to be spaced apart from the driving outlet port at a distance of approximately 100 mm or less. 
 
     
     
       24. A cleaning apparatus, comprising:
 a head unit through which air is introduced by a suction force generated by the cleaning apparatus; 
 a cleaning stick configured to be connected to the head unit, and configured to manipulate the head unit; and 
 a dust collector configured to be connected to a portion of the cleaning stick, the dust collector comprising:
 a cyclone unit disposed at a portion of the dust collector and comprising a cyclone generator configured to generate a cyclone stream in a cyclone space, so that foreign matter is separated from the air; 
 a dust collecting unit disposed at another portion of the dust collector and comprising a dust collecting space to receive the foreign matter separated from the air by the cyclone generator; 
 a partition rib which partially partitions the dust collecting unit from the cyclone generator in a lengthwise direction of the dust collector; 
 a communication gap provided between an end of the partition rib and a discharge side of the dust collector through which the foreign matter separated from the air by the cyclone generator flows from the cyclone unit into the dust collecting unit; and 
 a prevention rib disposed in the dust collecting unit to be spaced apart from the communication gap a predetermined distance and disposed to face the communication gap to block foreign matter reversely flowing from the dust collecting unit into the cyclone unit, 
 wherein the cyclone generator is configured to generate the cyclone stream in air introduced through an inlet port, the cyclone generator comprising:
 an inlet hole formed in a side of a tube extending from the inlet port to the inside of the cyclone space and formed so that air introduced from the inlet port is radially outwardly discharged from the tube, and 
 at least one cyclone generating rib formed spirally about the outer circumference of the tube to direct air introduced radially outward from the tube through the inlet hole to form a cyclone air stream, 
 
 
 wherein the cyclone space of the cyclone unit and the dust collecting space of the dust collecting unit are disposed inside a dust collector body, the dust collector body comprising an opening directly communicating with the cyclone space and the dust collecting space, 
 wherein a dust collector cover is disposed to open and close the opening of the dust collector body, and 
 wherein the prevention rib protrudes inwardly from the dust collector cover. 
 
     
     
       25. The cleaning apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein the at least one cyclone generating rib extends from the partition rib in a direction perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the dust collector.